39494: Purification and prayer for one who has urinary incontinence

I feel that some drops of urine come out. I asked about prayer and I was told to do wudoo’ at the time of each prayer and then pray as much as I want, then when the time for the next prayer comes, I should do wudoo’ again. My question is: is it permissible for me to do wudoo’ before the time for prayer begins, for example so that I can pray in congregation in the mosque. When I am away from home, is it permissible for me to pray with wudoo’ for the prayers whose time comes. If that is not permissible, what should I do to purify my underwear so that I can do wudoo’ and pray in them? Is it permissible for me to offer a lengthy prayer with one wudoo’, such as ‘Isha’ prayer then Taraaweeh? May Allaah reward you with all good.

Published Date: 2008-08-19

Praise be to Allaah.

1 – Whoever has a problem that constantly breaks his wudoo’, such as one who
suffers from urinary incontinence and constant wind, should do wudoo’ at the time of each prayer, and pray as much as he likes of obligatory and
naafil prayers with that wudoo’, until the time for the next prayer begins.

That is because of the report narrated in al-Saheehayn from ‘Aa’ishah who
said: Faatimah bint Abi Hubaysh came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said: “O Messenger of Allaah, I am a
woman who suffers from constant non-menstrual bleeding (istihaadah), and I never become pure. Should I give up prayer?” The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “No, rather that is from a vein, and it is not menstruation. When your regular time of
menstruation comes, then stop praying, and when that time is over, then wash the blood off yourself and pray, then do wudoo’ for every prayer
until that time comes.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 226 – this version was narrated by him; and Muslim, 333.

The scholars regarded the one who suffers urinary incontinence as coming under the
same rulings as the woman who suffers from istihaadah (irregular non-menstrual bleeding).

But if he knows that the urine will stop within the time when he will be able to
purify himself and pray, then he has to delay the prayer until that time.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

When a person suffers from urinary incontinence, one of two scenarios must apply:

(i) If it is constant and does not stop, and every time any amount collects in the
bladder it comes out, then when the time for prayer comes, he should cover his private part with something and pray, and it will not matter if
something comes out.

(ii) If it will stop after he urinates, or ten minutes or a quarter of an hour after that,
then he should wait until it stops, then do wudoo’ and pray, even if he misses prayer in congregation.

As’ilah al-Baab al-Maftooh, Q. 17, no. 67.

The scholars differed with regard to the tahaarah (putification) of the woman who
suffers from istihaadah and others like her – is the tahaarah invalidated when the time for prayer ends or when the time for the next prayer
begins? For example, one who does wudoo’ for Fajr prayer – can she pray Duha prayer or Eid prayer with this wudoo’ or not?

Those who say that her wudoo’ is invalidated when the time for (Fajr) prayer ends
say that she is not allowed to do that, because when the sun rises, her wudoo’ comes to an end.

Those who say that her wudoo’ is invalidated when the time for the next prayer
begins, say that it is permissible for her to pray Duha or Eid prayer with the wudoo’ for Fajr, because her wudoo’ lasts until the time for Zuhr
begins.

Both views are narrated in the madhhab of Imam Ahmad and others (al-Insaaf,
1/378; al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, 3/212)

To be on the safe side, she should do wudoo’ again for Duha and Eid prayer; this was stated in
a fatwa by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him). See question no. 22843.

2 – Based on the above, you cannot do wudoo’ before the time for prayer, whether
that is so that you can pray in congregation or for some other reason, because your wudoo’ will be invalidated when the time for the next prayer
begins.

But we would like to point out that this ruling applies only when the impurity is
ongoing. But if we assume that the person who has incontinence does wudoo’, then nothing comes out of him until the time for the next prayer
begins, he does not have to do wudoo’, and his first wudoo’ is still valid.

The words of the fuqaha’ – let him do wudoo’ for each prayer – apply if something
comes out of him.

Al-Bahooti said in al-Rawd al-Murabba’ (p. 57): For the woman who is
suffering istihaadah and those who suffer incontinence or continual emission of madhiy (prostatic fluid) or wind… should do wudoo’ when the time
for each prayer begins, if something comes out, and should offer obligatory and naafil prayers so long as that time lasts. If nothing comes out
then they do not have to do wudoo’.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The woman who is
suffering from istihaadah has to do wudoo’ at the time for each prayer, if something comes out; if nothing comes out of her then her first wudoo’
remains valid.

Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 1/438.

3 – If you are outside the home and your wudoo’ is invalidated because the time for the next
prayer begins, and you want to pray, then you have to repeat your wudoo’, after washing the private part and covering it with something that will
prevent the emission coming out as much as possible.

Underwear is purified by washing it. If you single out a clean garment for prayer
which you can carry with you, that will be easier for you. If it is too difficult to wash your clothes or change them, then pray as you are.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

The sick person who is suffering with urinary incontinence and cannot be cured with
treatment has to do wudoo’ for each prayer after the time for prayer begins. He should wash off whatever has gotten onto his body and set aside
clean clothes for prayer, if that is not too difficult for him. If he cannot do that then he is excused, because Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):

“and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship”

[al-Hajj 22:78]

“Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for
you”

[al-Baqarah 2:185]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If I command you to do
a thing, then do as much of it as you can.” He should take precautions to prevent urine spreading on his body or clothes or the place where he
prays.

End quote. From Fataawa Islamiyyah, 1/192

If it is too hard for you to do wudoo’ and wash your clothes for every prayer, then it is
permissible for you to join Zuhr and ‘Asr and pray them with one wudoo’ at the time of either of them, and to join Maghrib and ‘Isha’ likewise,
whether that is in your house or elsewhere.

It is permissible for the woman who is suffering from istihaadah to join Zuhr and ‘Asr, and
Maghrib and ‘Ishah’, because it is difficult for her to do wudoo’ for every prayer.

4 – You can pray Taraaweeh with the wudoo’ you did for ‘Isha’, even if the
Taraaweeh prayers last until after midnight.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:

Is it permissible for a woman who is suffering from istihaadah to pray qiyaam
al-layl if it will end at midnight, with the wudoo’ of ‘Isha’?

He replied:

This is an area concerning which there is a difference of scholarly opinion. Some of the
scholars said that when midnight comes she has to repeat her wudoo’, and some said that she does not have to repeat her wudoo’ – this is the more
correct opinion.